Pros and cons of urchins

[cracker]

I kept a black long spined urchin. Very cool animal and was an algae lawnmower. The spines are very sharp and will break off and fester at the slightest touch. It stuck me one time ! I hear they will eat corals ,never saw that. Only prob was every time I wanted to work on a spot in the tank, there it was. Also all the fishes knew to stay away.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

I just got one last week. I think they are awesome. I've got some algae spreading on a couple of rocks (as seen in the pic) and the collector I get my coral from swears by these guys for algae eating. He has a large tub full of them and says whenever they get algae covered live rock they just pop it all in the urchin tank for a week and then it's spotless.

He said they do sting and its hurts a bit of you get stuck by a spine but it's not the worst thing in the world. I can also take it back any time I feel it's too large and swap it for a smaller one so that's a sweet deal. But it's tiny atm so I don't think I'll be looking to swap it out any time soon.

 

[bufettphan]

Love my pink pin cushion, he really helped out with my GHA while I was getting my phosphates under control.

 

[Robert Scott]

Not so sure the real issue isn't weather it gets too big but more about is there enough for him to eat.

 

[Roboson]

I have a pretty great red pencil urchin. They're a great option if you're afraid of spines.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Not so sure the real issue isn't weather it gets too big but more about is there enough for him to eat.

Nah it's not really about the food, just that they get big and have long spines that get in the way during maintenance. The body is currently the size of my thumbnail and its in a 6x2x2 so I doubt it will run out of food any time soon. Even if it was quite large it should be fine as they also eat coraline algae so even if it takes care of all the GHA there will be a constantly spreading food source for it.

 

[Pola0502ds]

Im sure its been said already but the 120 tank at the school i take care of has one and its the ultimate bulldozer. Make sure your frags are glued down along with everything else. If not its going for a ride! With some urchins everything they touch sticks to them. We only keep it around and put up with it because the kids love it.

 

[GoJimmy]

I loved watching my urchin but it kept bulldozing all my aquascape. I got fed up putting everything back together everyday. Got rid of it.

 

[Shaun Sweeney]

I've got a long spine black urchin that doesn't care what time of day it is and he is all over the tank. Must be happy because he has grown noticeably since I got him about a year ago. Don't think he has knocked anything over yet.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I really enjoy watching my urchin, he is always into something. Even made a bryopsis issue I had more entertaining than anything...he wore it like a wig! It can be annoying when they latch onto things but you take it away and I generally replace the thing I dont want him to have with something else, like a kid or a dog.

 

[scardall]

In a FOWLR this guy is great.

 

[DanP-SD]

I've kept pincushions, tuxedos, long spine and pencils for years. Never been stung so I can't say if it hurts (and I've handled all of them so I think it's more a matter of being stabbed then stung. If you handle gently it doesn't seem to be a problem). If you cement your rock work, which you should with or without urchins, and glue your corals, they don't do much damage and they keep the tank cleaner than any snail.

 

[Steffan1]

I have had a long spined urchin in my reef tank for 4 years, which is full of corals. While it has knocked pieces over from time to time I think it is a truly unique organism and worth the trouble.

 

[Slyler]

I love my pincushion! He is entertaining and keeps algae under control! I also have a tuxedo, he does a good job on cleaning and is entertianing, but. It as much as the pincushion. The pincushion is great. Theybare in a 72 right now.

 

[Sharkbate]

I have not long added one to my Nem tank , was a little aprehensive at first but got a small short spine ... very cool addition cleans the rock work (of all algae !) and looks amazing ..even found it on the back of my snails cleaning their shell!
Go for it

 

[jimo12]

Used to love my urchin but he did destroy some of my newly added corals he just went over them. One day he fell in my catalapheylia and never saw him again. It was really nice&cool to watch him discussing him self with crushed corals. Dont think ill get one again. I might try one of thoes electric scalops

 

[DracoKat]

I have a rock borin urchin. I love him, but he doesn't do much in the way of eating algae. Had him for over 2 years in two different tanks. I am thinking about adding a pin cushion

 

[Joseph Pagnotta]

I Got This About 2 month's ago. Has not knocked any of my many corals, and loves the The Algae on back glass. Love to watch him Seach for Food.

55 gallon reef aquarium

 

[Matt Miller]

Thanks for all the great info! I moved it in my main tank and it's been on the move ever since. It hasn't made it down to the rocks yet but it's a very active cleaner, glad I asked [emoji106]

 

[Matt Miller]